The 70-535 Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions certification exam is being released as a replacement for the older 70-534 Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions exam. In the past Microsoft has simply updated the exam objectives of the 70-534 exam periodically over time. Although, this update is a significant update to the exam and they’ve decided to change the exam number to better signify the larger shift in skills measured on the exam.

The exam objectives listed in this post for the 70-535 Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions certification exam are “tentative” as the exam hasn’t been officially released yet. You should expect these details to updated / changed when Microsoft does release the exam.

Currently, the 70-535 exam is scheduled to be made available on November 30, 2017. After that date you will no longer be able to register for the older 70-534 exam.

Exam Target Audience

The 70-535 Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions certification exam is targeted towards Solutions Architects or Software Architects. This this is an architecture exam, and as such does focus a bit higher level than the Developing Azure Solutions (70-532) and Implementing Azure Solutions (70-533) exams. This is fitting, since when working as an Architect, you need to have a better understanding of how the various technologies within Microsoft Azure work; including how they can be configured to work with one another. As a result this exam does not cover as much of the lower level, development or implementation details as the other two exams. It also has a greater emphasis at analyzing solution requirements and enterprise scenarios with architecture case studies to test your ability to design an appropriate solution using Azure services.

Skills Measured

Here is a level list of the “tentative” skills and objectives measured on this exam. The percentages next to each represents the number of questions on the exam are in each category.

These objectives listed are “tentative” since Microsoft hasn’t officially released or made the 70-535 exam available yet. Microsoft has announced a “tentative” list of exam objectives. This post will be updated when more final objective information is released.

Use Azure Functions to implement event-driven actions; design for serverless computing using Azure Container Instances; design application solutions by using Azure Logic Apps, Azure Functions, or both; determine when to use API management service

Design micro services-based solutions

Determine when a container-based solution is appropriate; determine when container-orchestration is appropriate; determine when Azure Service Fabric (ASF) is appropriate; determine when Azure Functions is appropriate; determine when to use API management service; determine when Web API is appropriate; determine which platform is appropriate for container orchestration; consider migrating existing assets versus cloud native deployment; design lifecycle management strategies

Design web applications

Design Azure App Service Web Apps; design custom web API; secure Web API; design Web Apps for scalability and performance; design for high availability using Azure Web Apps in multiple regions; determine which App service plan to use; design Web Apps for business continuity; determine when to use Azure App Service Environment (ASE); design for API apps; determine when to use API management service; determine when to use Web Apps on Linux; determine when to use a CDN; determine when to use a cache, including Azure Redis cache

Determine when to use Azure SQL Database and SQL Server Stretch Database; design for scalability and features; determine when to use Azure Database for MySQL and Azure Database for PostgreSQL; design for HA/DR, geo-replication; design a backup and recovery strategy

Determine when to use Azure VPN, ExpressRoute and Virtual Network Peering architecture and design; determine when to use User Defined Routes (UDRs); determine when to use VPN gateway site-to-site failover for ExpressRoute

Design security strategies

Determine when to use network virtual appliances; design a perimeter network (DMZ); determine when to use a Web Application Firewall (WAF), Network Security Group (NSG), and virtual network service tunneling

Design solutions that use external or consumer identity providers such as Microsoft account, Facebook, Google, and Yahoo; determine when to use Azure AD B2C and Azure AD B2B; design mobile apps using AAD B2C or AAD B2B

Design a mechanism of governance and policies for administering Azure resources

Determine when to use Azure RBAC standard roles and custom roles; define an Azure RBAC strategy; determine when to use Azure resource policies; determine when to use Azure AD Privileged Identity Management; design solutions that use Azure AD Managed Service Identity; determine when to use HSM-backed keys

Manage security risks by using an appropriate security solution

Identify, assess, and mitigate security risks by using Azure Security Center, Operations Management Suite Security and Audit solutions, and other services; determine when to use Azure AD Identity Protection; determine when to use Advanced Threat Detection; determine an appropriate endpoint protection strategy

Design Solutions by using Platform Services (10-15%)

Design for Artificial Intelligence Services

Determine when to use the appropriate Cognitive Services, Azure Bot Service, Azure Machine Learning, and other categories that fall under cognitive AI

Design for IoT

Determine when to use Stream Analytics, IoT Hubs, Event Hubs, real-time analytics, Time Series Insights, IoT Edge, Notification Hubs, Event Grid, and other categories that fall under IoT

Determine when to use Azure Automation, Chef, Puppet, PowerShell, Desired State Configuration (DSC), Event Grid, and Azure Logic Apps; define a strategy for auto-scaling; define a strategy for enabling periodic processes and tasks

Among the objectives measured on the exam, you will need to understand DevOps technologies, provisioning Azure resources using ARM Templates, and designing highly resilient workloads running in Microsoft Azure.

You can also download a PDF of these “tentative” exam objectives that was released by Microsoft.

The 70-535 Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions Exam Ref is the official study guide for Microsoft certification exams. Featuring concise, objective-by-objective reviews and strategic case scenarios and Thought Experiments, exam candidates get professional-level preparation for the exam. The Exam Ref helps candidates maximize their performance on the exam and sharpen their job-role skills. It organizes material by the exam’s objective domains. This Exam Ref is a complete guide for the 70-535 exam covering architecting cloud solutions on Azure including all aspects of designing and creating a strategy for a complete solution leveraging the Microsoft Azure Cloud. This includes Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Networking, Security, application storage and data access, advanced applications, web and mobile apps, compute infrastructure, and managing, monitoring and creating a business continuity strategy.

Happy Studying!!

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Posted by Chris Pietschmann

Chris is a 6-time Microsoft MVP and has nearly 20 years of experience building enterprise systems both in the cloud and on-premises. He is also a Certified Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (both MCSD and MCSE), a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and self proclaimed Cloud Advocate. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.

Do you know whats will happen with 70-534 and MCSA? it wil be necessary to take new 70-535?.
Currently, I have these certifications (MCSA 2012/ 70-533/ 70-534) so I mean, having the 534 will I have the 535 automatically? And whats will happen with MCSE Cloud & Platform?

You will still have the MCSA and MCSE certifications that you have earned. You don’t need to worry! And, no you will not be automatically given the 70-535 exam. The 535 is a significant change from the 534, that is why the exam number is being changed.

That’s devastating news. This is a BAD MOVE by Microsoft. These types of announcements make us NOT want to take another Microsoft exam ever again!!!

While it is perfectly fine for Microsoft to periodically update the objectives within the 70-534 architect exam, it is NOT OK for Microsoft to retire it. My suggestion is to do the necessary updates within but continue to call this architect exam 70-534, eternally.

Microsoft Azure has three perfectly aligned Azure certification exams for dev (532), management (533), and architect (534) that cover the wide spectrum of the Azure cloud platform. These exam names and designated numbers are highly recognizable internationally. By “retiring” and creating new numbering, you are messing with what is already good and causing unnecessary CONFUSION and FRUSTRATION!

I feel BAD for people who have taken the 534 exam recently or are scheduled to take this exam in the next two months because by the time they are done, all their hard work is already “retired” (down the toilet).

If they retire the exam that’s fine, as long as they update things. Just because the e a.m. is retired doesn’t mean you’re no longer certified. You will still have the MCSE certification. All it means is that you will no longer be able to take the old 534 exam anymore. Numbering it 535 instead of 534 is just a cosmetic change on top of what’s already been done a couple times with the 534 anyway. Sorry for your frustration, but all certifications expire. Even the MCSE is only current for 1 year and then you need to take another exam to renew it the next year anyway. If you’ve already earned MCSE 2017, then you’re good for awhile; no need to worry about it!

Hi Chris. Will you provide a list of study materials for this exam when it’s finalized? I’ve found it troubling to study architect level Microsoft stuff because they want you to answer and do things “the Microsoft way” and that isn’t necessarily exactly what you yourself want. So a thorough study material is necessary..

Hi Chris. I have registered and will be taking my 70-534 exam on 15th Nov. My exam date was registered even before Microsoft announced the new 70-535.
1. Shall i continue the 70-534 study or wait for the new 70-535 ?
2. If I passed the 70-534 exam and make me qualified as a MCSE, will I still have to take the 70-535 exam after Microsoft released the 70-535 on 31st Nov 2017?

Yes, continue to study for and take the 70-534 exam on November 15th. I would not abandon those plans if you are well on your way to passing that exam, it’s still very relevant. Also, yes, 70-534 will still count towards the MCSA and MCSE certifications if you pass this exam before it is retired. Once you pass 70-534 you will not be required to take 70-535 in order to keep your certification.

Coming from the Infrastructure side, I recommend you go with either the 70-533 infrastructure focused exam, or the 70-535 architecture focused exam. I’ve heard different opinions on which exam is “easier” as it all depends on what your role and experience is.

Hi
I have scheduled my 70-534 for Dec 2017 initially but I have to postponed it to MARCH 2018 because of some personal reasons.Now my question is as 70-534 is decommissioned will I be able to appear for 70-534 or do I have to cancel my 70-534 exam.And again scheduled 70-535 ?